Elementary math

Did you know that you can teach tons of stuff with playdoh? Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, measurement and geometry are a few things that you can teach! Start today. Get inspired here!

This energizer is called Rule of the Day. The teacher states a rule like:

Doubles,

Doubles Plus 1

Half Facts

Ten More

Ten Less

Multiples

Then the game begins. The teacher says a number and the students have to answer following the rule. For example, if the teacher said, the rule is “Half Facts” the starter number is 20 then students would say 10, 5, 2.5 depending on the grade level. If the prompt is doubling and the starter number was 50 the students would say 100,200,400 etc.

This can be a fun, energetic, academically rigorous game that gets students very flexible with math facts. Look at your standards and pick your rules based on what the students need to know!

To begin math workshop you might do a series of energizers and daily routines that build skills throughout the school year. One of my favorite daily routines is Counting Around the Room. Counting around the room can be really fun and works in all grade levels. The count differs according to the grade level. In the primary grades you are counting by 1’s, 2’s 5’s and 10’s. In the upper elementary grades you are counting by multiples, fractions, decimals and percents.

Remember that the FOCUS is on the relationships of the numbers!

So for example, count around the room by 5’s and then by 10’s. Ask the students to talk about what they noticed. Have the students count by 2’s and then ask them where they think they will land if they count by 4’s given the relationship between those two numbers. Have the students count by 1’s and then ask them where they think they will land if they count by halves.

Here are a few questions to consider about this routine:

1. What are your scaffolds, so everyone has a way into the activity and can experience success?

2. Is your numberline out, visible and accessible?

3. Does everyone have their own numberline?

4. Is your numbergrid out, visible and accessible?

5. What other models and tools might the students use to access the count?

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